Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-07-16

/! end we were az bn6 S8uuDaF. a dark OBJ
| iect was crouching at the waters edge. ]
sprang forward, assisted Dolores into ou1
boat, which was soon moving rapidly down
stream with Dan and me at the oars.
/ Toward dayl ght we passed the haunted
| house. Dolores said not word, but gazed
sadly at the great pile of moss-Rrovn logs
until the boat went round a bend in the
river called "the devils elbow"
| Dolores told us her story as the boat
| few over the waters.
She had been carried away by the In
dams who murdered her parents. He1
| story led me to believe that the murder
was committed not for revenge. but fol
money, by Indians hired and led by two
! white men, one of whom Dolores described
! go minutely that l was convinced it was
my guardian, Mr.. Charner. She could say
but little regarding the other white rene
gade, but il Diego Dan could have read
my thoughts, dare say he would have fed
me TO the fishes of the San Juan with scan,
words of warning or regret.
Her Indian captors had always treated
her with great kindness and respect, as il
was understood she was to become the wife
of the chiefs young son, the Mountain
Lion. This she d determined never to sub
NIT to, and only few DAYS ago had es-
capped from the Lion only to be picked up
on the plains by the Coyote, who soon ex-
pressed desire to have her grace his own
wigwam. In her pleadings for mercy to
the mercless red brute she had CHANGED
to mention the name of her father's old
friend, Diego Dan, who had often been
kind to her. Coyote at once treated her as
O daughter, and continued TO show her
every kindness uniil1 rescued" her.
ave may be in danger, children" said
Dan, arranging his weapons within easy
reach. "The Mountain Lions camp is be-
low here, and he may come this way in
search there they are!"
Three large canoes, filled with Indians,
pushed out from among the shadows Of the
cottonwoods that just here fringed the
stream and came rapidly toward US.
ave must fight, said Diego Dan, calmly.
"Stay behind US, Dolores; they will fire in
q moment"
They did so without effect. We fred;
my bullet sent an Indian spirit to the happy
hunting ground, while Dams shot simply
broke both legs of the foremost brave, who
tumbled overheard 10 drown.
The firing was now inces:ant. The In
dams were poor marksmen, while each
volley from our boat decreased the number
of our enemies. Dan would have put half
the Hualapai tribe on crutches had they
not come in closer where we could use our
revolvers, when they fell faster still. At
short range Dan shot to kill.
"Pm gonen Diego Dan remarked, in a
matter of-fact tone, as he fell forward
pierced by bullet; "but don't surrender"
Dolores had caught up his pistol and
was discharging it with deadly effect at the
nearest Indian boat.
"See!" she cried, "there is the young
chief I will be forced to marry if we are
taken. Oh! he is aiming at you'll"
But Dolores saved me, for she fred first,
and her bullet passed through his body.
The last thing 1 remembered was seeing
him fall head first into the water-and all
was dark.
For days and days it was SO, and then I
came to know myself CHASTITY, weak spec
ter, captive in an Indian camp. The first
object my weak eyes rested upon when I
awoke from that long, deathlike sleep was
a woman sitting beside my couch. As rea-
son slowly asserted it's reign, and my mind
became clearer, recognized Dolores; but
was too weak to speak to her.
Slowly the memory Of the recent event.
full past came back to me; but where was
Diego Dan2
The Indians with whom we had the bat
tie were in pursuit of Dolores at the time.
After I fell they ceased firing; we were
soon all transferred to their boats and taken
before their chief. Dan was taken away
with another branch of the tribe. I soon
came to know the fate destined for me. I
was to remain with the Indians in place of
the young chief whom Dolores had shot,
and was to take Dolores for my wife-or
die. In case l chose the latter alternative
which l don't suppose the old chief
thought probable-he would make Dolores
lis own wife.
became the chiefs son, under the name
of Chain Lightning Cat least, they gave me
an Indian name which meant that, and he
sent Dolole, to my tent. He seemed pleased
with me, and l was glad to have my dear
love near me, where could watch over
and protect her.
The news came few days later that
Diego Dan had escaped. Fearing that he
would return with help to rescue Dolores
and me the Mountain Lion decided to go
out upon the Eastern Arizona plains, a long
way across the country. Dolores and de-
termined TO escape.
We did not wait long. One dark night I !
crept softly up behind sentinel, and, with |
a heavy blow from the fiat side of my TOM |
ahawk. knocked him silent. We reached |
the river, where the boats lay at anchor.
quickly cut them all loose, except one into |
-rr-~, ana pushed OF down |
stream. She managed the oars equally as |
well as l, and our little boat made the |
waters fairly bubble as we Rlided rapidly
down the current. I had no fears Of being
overtaken.
The night was intensely dark; vivid light
ming and thunder indicated the approach
OF storm. It came soon-one of those ter
Elble transforms known in Arizona in mid
summer-and the wind tossed our boat
from wave to wave like dry leaf. Should
it sink 1 knew We would both be drowned,
as was unable to swim and could render
Dolores no assistance.
passed my arm around her and pressed
her close to my breast; she was very calm
md did not shrink from me. We had
known each other only short time, it is
rue; but, under the circumstances, is it
II all strange that we loved each other?
vas quite hero in her eyes-and in my
DWn I knoxv not ~ flo% ~ - ~ hoI |